Update – Three people were hospitalized and one child has died.

On June 28, 2019, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reported four confirmed or probable pediatric cases of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) that may be related to contact with animals at the San Diego County Fair. As of July 10, 2019, 10 confirmed cases and one probable case have been reported in this outbreak.

The source of the E. coli bacteria is under investigation, but all children were reported to have visited the animal areas, the petting zoo, or had other animal contact at the San Diego Fair. The San Diego County Fair came to its 2019 season close on July 4th. County Environmental Health also re-inspected food facilities visited by the children and found no link to the cases. For more information, please visit the County News Center.

STEC Symptoms
Preventing STEC Infection
Data and Reports
Resources

Symptoms of STEC infection

People with a STEC infection usually start feeling sick 3-4 days after eating or drinking something that contains the bacteria. However, illness can start anywhere from 1-10 days following exposure. Symptoms vary, but often include:

  • Severe abdominal cramps
  • Watery or bloody diarrhea (3 or more loose stools in a 24-hour period)
  • Vomiting

Fever, if present, is usually not very high (less than 101˚F/38.5˚C). Most people get better within 5-7 days. However, some infections can be severe or life-threatening. Please contact your health care provider if you have experienced these symptoms on or after June 8, and especially if you have diarrhea that lasts for more than 3 days or diarrhea that is accompanied by a fever higher than 102˚F, or blood in the stool, or so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down and you pass very little urine.

Preventing STEC infection

One of the best ways to help prevent infection with STEC is frequent and proper handwashing. Always wash your hands thoroughly after contact with animals or their environments (at farms, petting zoos, fairs, even your own backyard). Everyone, especially young children, older individuals, and people with weakened immune systems, should wash their hands before eating or drinking. Thorough handwashing means using plenty of soap, warm water, and scrubbing all surfaces of the hands (including between the fingers), for at least 20 seconds.

For more information about STEC infection and how to prevent it, please see the sections below.

Data and Reports

County of San Diego HHSA
STEC Data Summary
Monthly Communicable Disease Report—May 2018 (Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli)

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) Questions and Answers

California Department of Public Health
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli Information

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $650 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

Additional Resources